Unique project invites referees from Iceland and Gibraltar

This year's CEE Cup will not only showcast talented footballers from all around the world, but also foreign referees. For the 6th time, the REFEX organization will once again send their referees to the tournament hailing from Germany, Slovakia, Hungary, and as far as Gibraltar and Iceland.

REFEX is an acronym for "referee exchange", an organization with the aim of sending referees from all over the world to participate in tournaments abroad, which provides them with a valuable experience and contacts.

"We take over all organizational work from the referees who like to participate in tournaments around the world", explains REFEX Executive Director, Oliver Dick.

"On our end we manage registration to the tournament and transportation, as well as organize the mission at the tournament and help them plan their free time", shares Oliver. "On top of professional arbitration, we also provide the tournament organizing company support and help in managing the events", adds the German referee.

REFEX is primarily for the rookies in football arbitration, though only experienced professionals will be at the CEE Cup. Andrew Parody, from Gibraltar, has already made it onto the FIFA lists and he reffed the UEFA qualifying games in Serbia between the Maltian Gzira United and the Serbian Radnički Niš. Slovak Peter Ziemba has also found his place on the UEFA lists and, last but not least, Icelandic referees Gudmundur Bjarnason and Gunnar Oddur are both employed in their domestic league.

In essence, REFEX is a non-profit organization patronized by Viktor Kassai; this 42-year-old referee from Hungary is cemented in the annals of football history as being the first to ever make use of the VAR (Video Assisted Referee) at the Club World Championship in Osaka, Japan.

Collaboration with the Prague CEE Cup is very much appreciated by REFEX. "This is one of the best tournaments in our lists", says Oliver Dick. "Considering the event's competitiveness and prestige, this is a great recognition". Our referees work in tournaments in Finland, USA, China, Norway, Denmark, Singapore, and Iceland; in total, there have been 4,000 referees who were sent to events from REFEX. Last year, unfortunately, just 500“, adds the CEO of REFEX.